Nevada County picayune., 1887-03-16
Grandmother.

and as she sat in her accustomed corner by the big open fireplace of the old-fashioned kitchen, gag ing steadfastly into the smoulder-- ing embers. she saw a dim reflex of the fading of her own life that had once been so bright and pleas ant. For grandmother's heart was far younger than they of the house. hold dreamed, and much commu- nication with her own thoughts had made her somewhat fanciiul = 'notional" her energetic married daughter, Martha, termedit, when once grandmother had tried 10 tell her of what she sometimes saw in the dancing flames. ta
 And gradually grandmother grew to say little or nothing out side the common routine of daily life, lest she be misunderstood. But sometimes there was wistful look in her faded eyes as she lis tened to the lively talk of the Young people about her, absorbed in themselves and their own da- ties or pleasures. For grandmotll. er-as they said carelcssly, though not unkindly had outgrown her usefulness. That is, as increasing years brought the iniirnlties of old age, she could no longer come and 90, as when more hale and vigorous, in the service of the grandchildren, who had grown up and gone away from her. They knew nothing of her yearnings for d loving word or d tender caress, now and then, which thouglItless- ness. not heartlessness, withheld. Nor did they imagine that in their merry voices she heard the echo of other voices, long since stilled in death.
 For, as l say, she had grown to ponder these things in her heart, but never to speak them. Even Martha, who like her scriptual prototype, was careful and anxious about many things concerning the household, never seemed to have time to touch her fresher lips to the wrinkled checks against which her own baby face had been so of ten lovingly pressed in years gone by, or to take in her own, the with cred hand that had lost its cunning. For Joiln, the husband. a strong, hearty man, who toiled from early morn till eve on the farm which grandfather had deeded to him and her daughter, taking back condi- tional bond for her support during the remainder of life, nursing in sickness and a decent burial Qn- cluding headstone e-cOsting not less than forty dollnrs) was himself rather careless as to grandmother's well-being. Not that he was un- kind, or neglectful of his bounden duty. 0, no! But away down in the dark closet of every heart. where the meaner and more evil thoughts germiuate, was the un- spoken one that after old people have outlived their usefulness and are prepared to go," heaven is the best place for them. Consid' eriug that the semi-religiOus tone of the latter part of his communing neutralized, so to speak. the sel. fishness of its beginning, he had allowed Martha glimpse into this secret corner; and, while she would not allow, even to herself, that she shared in the feeling, it's shadowy influence was not without effect.
 Some little word inadvertently dropped in gradmother's presence had given her a faint conscious ness that this might be the case. She sat alone in the deepening twi- light on thls particular evening, tor the childreu were away pleasuring, while John and Martha had step ped across the way to neighbours. Her tremulous fingers. locked to- gether, were resting on the open pages of the well-worn Bible which lay in her lap, and her troubled thoughts gradually fastened upon the words which she had been reading as the day died out: He giveth power to the faint, and to them that haveth no might He in- creaseth strength. But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount np as on eagle's wings" .g. Grand mother closed her eyes as the fire
 1 I